When to Make the Switch to Grow Your Audience [TwitchCon Panel 2016]

For the complete list of panels, check out the main TwitchCon 2016 panel recap post.

VoD link: https://www.twitch.tv/twitchconsandstorm/v/93347091 & https://www.twitch.tv/twitchconsandstorm/v/93347552
Sandstorm Theater Day One
Participants: DJTechLive, UnholyTemptress, Brotatoe, DeejayKnight

• Sticking to just one game all the time is difficult
  • Your audience will know if you aren’t enjoying the game you are playing
  • Can become dry when trying to make the same game seem fresh and interesting
• Transitioning or expanding your game diversity
  • Expand to games in the same or similar genre
  • Expand to related games
  • Example: MMOs -> Mass Effect
• Your stream will take a hit in viewership when you first diversify from your core game(s)
  • Having a good time will bring in new viewers and bring your old viewers along
  • Happy streamer = happy audience
• Interaction is key
  • Talk to your chat, facilitate discussions
  • Having a core community is important because they will follow you from game to game
  • Don’t use a welcoming bot or call out lurkers
• When not to focus on chat interaction
  • Don’t become reliant on chat
  • Be entertaining on your own
  • Gameplay commentary
• Be natural, viewers will appreciate it and notice if you’re faking it
• Develop a schedule, let your viewers know what you are planning to play ahead of time
  • Showing game trailers leading up to release + your playthrough
  • Plan and share a calendar
  • Doesn’t need to be set in stone
• Ease your viewers into variety or new games
  • Especially if you are stuck in a game and wanting to play something else
    • Start with your core game, switch to a new game mid-stream
  • Let them know your plans in advance
• Stat-tracking websites
  • Twinge
  • Muxy
  • Socialblade
  • Use statistics to find what games are doing well for you, your best time slots, etc.
• Don’t care about people who leave
  • People change tastes, get busy with lives
  • Some will come back later to check on you
  • Focus on those that are there and newcomers that you can convert to regulars
• Sometimes a game doesn’t work for your channel
  • Can’t force your audience into a game
  • Diving into an oversaturated game usually won’t work
  • Viewership isn’t everything, but if it tanks and stays that way with a game, you might consider dropping that game
• QnA
  • Analyzing and selecting your time slot?
    • Position yourself before bigger streamers or an hour before a bigger streamer ends that is playing similar games as you
    • Find a time that works for you
    • Ask your viewers when they are available
  • Is it possible to start as a variety caster as a new streamer on Twitch nowadays?
    • True variety is not sustainable
    • Much better to find a genre to stick to when starting
  • How do you engage your audience to follow to a different game or genre?
    • There is a core audience that will follow you to any game
    • Nothing you can do about people who leave because they just don’t have interest
    • Instead of switching mid-stream, try setting different days